Category Archives: October

Long Neck

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“Giraffe as a species are generally poorly understood,
with simple questions like their population numbers, genetics, ecology,
movement and natural history only just beginning to be investigated.”
Dr. Keith Leggett

One of the tallest mammals on the planet is the giraffe. For years, the origin of its long, slender neck baffled the scientific community. Scientists worked around the theory that the evolution enabled the mammals to find food in higher places, and to help them better fight predators.

The giraffe’s beautiful long neck didn’t happen over night. A new study is proving that the evolution of the giraffe’s long neck happened in several stages over millions of years. The study found that the giraffe’s third vertebra from the top of a mammal’s spine began to elongate in one cluster of the mammal’s species. Millions of years later, the back part of the vertebra started to extend.

Fast forward to today, the modern giraffe is the only giraffe species whose vertebra elongated in both front and back. This evolutionary alteration explains the occurrence of its slender and unusually long neck.

Shine On

Whole Foods Apologies

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“If we want corporations to act differently,
we have to force them to do so through laws
that are fully enforced and through penalties
higher than the economic benefits of
thwarting the laws.”
Robert Reich

The Cost of Food

All of us have experienced sticker shock at the food check-out lines. Some of you may or may not shop at Whole Foods. Recently when I went to Whole Foods I was so disgusted at their prices I walked out. Some of their food items were more than double in price. For example Whole Foods Anaheim peppers were $2.99 a pound while Trader Joe’s are $.99 a pound.

There has been a great deal of talk lately from comedians about Whole Foods prices and business practices. So I got a great deal of enjoyment when I saw Stephen Colbert give the following funny commentary about Whole Foods apologies.

Shine On

Ford Model A

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“One of the greatest discoveries a man makes,
one of his great surprises, is to find he can
do what he was afraid he couldn’t do.”
Henry Ford

Ford Model A

Saw this Ford Model A parked on the Esplanade today. It was such a beauty, I just had to snap a shot of her.

I’m not sure what year this car is, but the Ford Model A was the Ford Motor Company’s second huge success after its predecessor, the Model T.

The Model A was first produced on October 20, 1927, and was available in four standard colors. Prices for a new Model A ranged from $385 for a roadster to $1,400 for the top-of-the-line Town Car.

In today’s market, a Ford Model A restored like the one I took a photo of would be worth anywhere from $10,000 upwards to $100,000 depending on the year of the Model  A.

I bet Henry Ford himself would be proud to know that people collect and still drive one of Fords most popular automobiles, the Ford Model A.

Shine On

Respect For One Another

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“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress
can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
Mahatma Gandhi

Respect For One Another

Animals unlike man, kill not from hatred or pleasure, but for their survival. Man has always believed that there are certain animals that are enemies by nature.

However, when I saw this photo of a one year old cheetah with her canine friend, it touched my heart. How did these two unlikely animals become inseparable?

Their story began last year when eight cheetah cubs were born in captivity at the Leo Zoological Conservation Center in Greenwich, Connecticut. Unfortunately, three of the cubs were cast out by their mother because she was unable to nurse eight cubs. Two of the male cubs bonded which left the female all alone. It was up to the staff at the center to nurse the outcast cub back to health.

It was important for the survival of the female cub to bond with another cub or animal. So, the center searched for an animal.  When they introduced Adaeze the cheetah cub to Odie, a 7-year-old dog, the two animals bonded instantly.

Whatever the reason for this bonding of two enemies of the animal kingdom, it just goes to show us humans that even our enemies can become our allies. All it takes is for us to learn to have a mutual respect for one another.

Shine On